Doctor Who Drabble: Changed

[bk_forever]

Title: Changed

Author: badly_knitted

Characters: Amy, Rory

Rating: G

Written For: Challenge 012 – Out Of Character at dw100

Spoilers: The Girl Who Waited.

Summary: Amy’s ordeal has changed her.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Doctor Who, or the characters.

Amy’s changed. It’s not just that she’s older, although she is. She’s been trapped here more than thirty-six years, and it tears Rory up to think about her being alone for so long.

That’s what’s making her act so unlike the woman he loves. Not the time that’s passed, but the being alone. They didn’t mean to abandon her but it hardly matters. Intent is irrelevant when you have to fight for survival every day, knowing that no one’s coming to save you.

It’s turned her hard, angry, bitter, full of hate. The worst thing is, Rory can’t blame her.

The End

Comments

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Amy went through a lot of hardships during her time on and off the TARDIS, but we never really saw the repercussions on how it affected her. Just a mention here and there.

[bk_forever]

That's an unfortunate truth when it comes to most Who characters. I liked this episode particularly because it did show the consequences for at least a version of Amy, even though they managed to get her young self back. Seeing that Amy affected Rory deeply throughout the episode. He wanted so badly to save her. As you probably guessed, I adore Rory, he has so much love for Amy.

Thank you.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

At least we did see the devastation older Amy had to have gone through. But it felt like a reset because Rory got back the younger Amy. Although I'm sure Rory had to live with knowing what had happened. I don't think he would have said anything to Amy about it.

Even though I can sympathize with Amy's life experiences, its Rory that made me understand her more. Maybe it was how Moffat wrote Amy. It was hard to get "close" to her when she was part of the mystery plot of series.

The Doctor: Does it ever bother you, Amy, that your life doesn't make any sense?.

She was not about to respond. I felt sorry for her.:(

Rory was more like the conventional champion. It didn't help that I was not totally satisfied by Karen Gillian's acting. I know some people didn't think Freema Agyeman's acting was great either but at least I could still identify with Martha.

Maybe it was the fact that RTD introduced the domestic aspect but then, I was able to enjoy Leela's character in the old series. I don't know exactly how to define it.

Out of the series 5 episodes, "The Beast Below" is where I liked Amy the most because that's when I saw her as a young woman reacting in a normal way.

(1) Worrying about getting married.
(2) Being patient when the Doctor got angry at her and giving him an alternative to the star whale dilemma.

It was left to interpretation why Rory was devoted to her. I assume it was her independence and creativity that endeared him to her. I must have been more than the fact that she is an attractive person. Knowing they grew up together and were friends first gave that weight. It made the moments when she was being blunt to him, not so mean.

Its not until they are married where you see that it goes both ways. Rory was comfortable with snapping at her when he was frustrated.

Amy: Look for clues?

Rory: Clues? What kind of clues?.
(Puts on fake Scottish accent)

Amy Pond: Shut up!

It was good to see Karen do both Amy's instead of having another actress play the old Amy like it was intended.

Old Amy to Rory: Tell Amy, your Amy, I'm giving her the days.

Clara speech about her mother touched on a similar matter in "The Rings of Akhaten" about lost except Clara was using a leaf that brought her parents together as a symbol of sacrifice. Old Amy literally sacrifice herself so Rory could have young Amy back.

I know some people were annoyed that Rory and Amy were always sacrificing or "dying" for each other, but isn't that what couples do when they are committed to each other?.

What bothered me is when they almost divorced. I don't think they would have given up so easily. Moffat just did it that way for drama.

Now I miss Rory & Amy again. I wish we could have seen more of their parents, particularly Brian.

Sorry. I didn't mean to type that much.:)

[bk_forever]

Amy was a fairly conventional run-around companion, there as a foil for the Doctor, who after all is the main character. Rory was kind of the companion's companion, there to shine a light on Amy, perhaps make us see the other side of her, not the adventurer but the woman. I found that an interesting dynamic. It never worked so well when Mickey was travelling with Rose and the Doctor simply because Rose didn't have much depth and Mickey was treated as a joke. There's the difference, I think, between RTD and Stephen Moffatt. Moff tries to... I don't know how to explain. I guess he's not obsessed with one character over all the others, he tries to be more even-handed and show more depth in the relationships between characters. But things are always going to get complicated because of the Doctor, he throws a spanner into everything just by dragging people out of their normal lives. His companions develop crushes, or feelings of hero worship at first because this being is showing them there is so much more out there than they ever imagined. But Amy had someone in her life who helped her get her feet back on the ground, and Clara was in some ways more grounded to start with. I'm looking forward to seeing who the next companion will be.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Amy loved Rory but was still intrigued by Eleven. Whereas Rose didn't loved Mickey. She was too busy being infatuated by Ten. She just liked having Mickey around when it was convenient for her.

Ten was the one who invited Mickey along. Sort of a buffer to keep Rose at arms length. The Doctor didn't respect Mickey in the beginning. At least we got to see him evolve towards the end. He deserved better than Rose.

Clara's story started with showing us how losing her mother at a young age made her more nurturing towards others, specifically children.

I wish we knew why Amy was more excited to see her father than her mother after her life was fixed at the end of series 5. Maybe it was because her mother was more critical. Which reminds me of the RTD era with the "nagging mother" thing.

I hope we get to see a champion who has a proper relationship with their mother.

[bk_forever]

Sorry for the slow reply, I've been battling writing deadlines, betaing deadlines, and feeling under the weather so a few things like answering comments had to be left for a while. Trying to catch up now.

I think RTD brought too much of his own baggage to his writing. Maybe he didn't have a good relationship with his mother. While there's certainly room in writing to reflect your personal life, I think he goes way too far and some themes he just keeps re-using all the time to the point of tedium and beyond. It would be so good to see a companion who is close to their parents, or is even a parent themself. With a grown-up child of course.

You're so right about Rose, and the same is true of Gwen's treatment of Rhys, she wants him when it's convenient to her. Given a fair chance, Mickey grew into a strong and capable man, but Rose couldn't see how special he was.

The whole thing with Amy's parents was frustratingly glossed over, there was so much there that could have been told but now we'll never know.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Whatever RTD issues with his parents, it would have been preferable if he had differienate the mothers. Everything else in the champions background was very similar.

When Rose, Martha or Donna were in a situation where they were bothered by their mum, they responsed like this:

"Don't start" or "Not now mum".

The only obstacle for a champion to be a parent is they maybe more reluctant to travel with the Doctor because it can be dangerous.

The closet we got was Amy & Rory and their grown up child River who they never got to raise. I don't think looking out for Mel counts. What happened to them was glossed over.

Maybe a widow or someone who is totally different from what we have seen.

RTD made it seemed like Mickey needed Rose to validate him.

Rose to Mickey: You are the bravest man I know.

Too late for that!

We could have seen Amys parents in the Christmas special. There was no mentioned of Rorys mum.

We never saw Clara have a proper conversation with her father except for her grandmother. Moffat is not big on domestic.

[bk_forever]

I loved Amy. Her acting wasn't always perfect, but I still thought her a great and multi-layered character. The almost divorce thing was just so tragic, it was a massive miscommunication, one of them thinking the other would be better off without them because of the inability to have kids. I think it was Amy, wanting Rory to have the chance to be a parent, willing to sacrifice her own happiness for him when all he wanted was her. I thought they were great together. They give and take.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was the 'eye' acting she did in "Vincent and the Doctor" that threw me off a bit. Otherwise I think Karen improved after series 5.

Divorce is not something to deal with lightly. My parents got divorced when I was a teenager and it was only the right thing to do because it was my dads fault. My mum didn't want a divorce but she had to do whats best for my brother and I as well as herself.

I don't blame Amy for wanting to be selfless and push Rory away. I just wished they had talked it out before contemplating separation. Rory was angry because he didn't want a divorce. He loved her no matter what. Then Amy slaps him and breaks down.

Maybe Amy didn't want to do counseling after the four psychiatrist thing when she was a little girl?. Anyway I was glad when that source of conflict was over with.

[bk_forever]

My parents divorced when I was in my teens too, and it was my dad's fault. He cheated, then he left, after 25 years of marriage *shrugs* At least with him gone all the fighting stopped.

Amy's very strong willed, she thought she was doing the right thing and she was so wrong. It's a very human thing, trying to be selfless without giving the other person the chance to make their own choices. At least they straightened things out before it was too late, and they became stronger as a couple after that when they finally were completely honest with each other. I think that was kind of the message. Don't assume you know what's best, talk things through and listen to each other.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

My dad was abusive. I still have to deal with him though because his old and he still gives me attitude. I still have flashbacks to when I was a kid and how he use to bully me. He can't intimidate me now though.

Sorry that I have strayed into personal territory. I guess my life experiences influence the way I see fictional characters.:)

[bk_forever]

I think we're all coloured by our experiences. My dad wasn't a bully, but I never really felt like I could please him, no matter what I did. There was always that undercurrent of feeling I wasn't good enough at anything for him, I think he probably wished I was a boy because he already had a daughter, but he didn't approve of me liking boyish things like car instead of dolls because I was a girl and should like girl things. I never did. I read Marvel comics, which he disapproved of.

He passed away a few years ago and then I lost mum in February. I never left home, it was just me and mum for over 30 years. Christmas is going to be very strange without her. Part of me just wants to skip it, I can't get into the Christmas spirit this year.

[cynthia2015.livejournal.com]

My condolences on your parents. I have a friend whose parents have passed away and sometimes she would confine in me about them.

I think the part of the reason that I'm resentful towards my father is not because he didn't act like a parent. It's the fact that he is a compulsive liar and I can't trust him. I relied on my older brother as a positive male authority figure instead.

I try to appreciate that I have my mum and brother because all my relatives live overseas.

I hope you have family and friends around during this holiday season.

[akawho.livejournal.com]

I can't imagine being alone for that long.

[bk_forever]

And having to survive on her wits... It's a terrifying thought!

Thank you!

[owensheart.livejournal.com]

Must be horrible to be alone for that long, no wonder she changed to much.

great drabble.

[bk_forever]

It was such a sad episode.

Thank you!

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

Right?! Said it all in one drabble...hardest episode for me to watch. It is brilliant, but sad.

*HUGS*

[bk_forever]

Really sad, but so well acted.

Thank you. *hugs back*

Happy New Year!